"CBF commends the state and Virginia localities for working together to develop a localized, Phase 2 Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan. A plan of sufficient local detail is necessary so that localities know what is expected of them, citizens can advocate for appropriate actions, and decision-makers and stakeholders can track progress.

"Unfortunately, CBF finds the new state plan lacks the local specifics—actions, ordinances, funding, and timeframes—to be helpful. Given the extensive engagement and proactive efforts by many localities over the past year to devise their own cleanup plans, the omission of any locally specific strategies in the state plan is a significant disappointment and a missed opportunity.

CBF Calls for Revisions

"Therefore, CBF calls upon Virginia to continue aggressively implementing the Phase I Bay cleanup plan and to revise the Phase 2 plan by:

Publishing clear guidelines by July 2012 that inform localities how to design, approve, and adjust local pollution reduction plans;

Requiring localities to commit by July 2013 to clear quantitative goals and practices and to specific strategies and timelines for achieving them;